In this Instagram posted by Martin Garrix in July 2016, his Roland Gaia SH-01 Synthesizer can be seen at the center of his studio setup. Its central placement could indicate Garrix uses the keyboard on the Gaia as a MIDI controller to control other hardware and software synths.

When asked about his Roland Gaia in [this interview](http://www.roland.co.uk/blog/graham-coxon-interview/), Graham says, "We use that live too. It does everything. I don’t know much about synths but I was looking at that one closely so it was great that Lucy in my band got it. That’s our synth!"

"The SH-01 is definitely a staple of the setup with Conspirator. We do all of the pre-production in advance in the studio, and then we remove from the computer mix what we can physically play: lead lines, bass lines, and all the drums. KJ Sawka, our drummer, plays a real drum kit, but he uses Roland drum triggers to trigger the actual drum sounds that we used to create the music. Things that stay in the mix are fast arpeggiators, sound effects, risers, downlifters, wind noises, some wobble basses, and extra lead lines to just beef up the sound."

The Roland synth's signal flow is simple to grasp, with logically arranged knobs, sliders, and buttons. Hands-on control and fat sound make the little Gaia SH-01 a powerhouse and a joy for music students, songwriters, session players, and live performers of all styles and skill levels.

Stackable Effects
From the silkiest reverb to the grittiest growl, the Roland SH-01's instantly selectable multi-effects catapult your sounds into another spatial dimension. You can layer up to 5 simultaneous effects for dozens of variations. Onboard Roland effects include reverb, distortion, fuzz, bit crash, flanger, phaser, pitch shifter, low boost, and delay with panning and tempo sync. Roland eqips the Gaia SH-01 with cdedicated control knobs for tweaking the effects in real time.

Portable Power
At less than 10 pounds, the Roland GAIA SH-01 is lightweight, compact, and great for musicians on the go. The 37-note keyboard is full-size, however, so performers can play naturally and comfortably. The synth can be powered via AC or batteries* for the ultimate in portable convenience. A battery-life indicator on the front panel ensures that you won't lose power unexpectedly. When used in conjunction with a battery-powered amp such as Roland's CUBE Street, MOBILE CUBE, BA-330 or KC-110, the GAIA SH-01 can be played and heard anywhere!

Instant Control
The front panel puts every control directly under your fingertips. There are no hidden menus, no nonsense. Just play and move the knobs and sliders, or wave your hands over the invisible D Beam for dramatic effects. The logically designed front panel shows the signal path from left to right. It helps beginners understand synthesis, while experienced players will love the instant gratification of hands-on control during performance.

Phrase Recorder and Arpeggiator
Hold a note or chord and let the arpeggiator create musical magic automatically for you. The tempo can be set via tap tempo. In addition, the onboard Phrase Recorder lets you record what you play on the keyboard as well as the movements of the knobs and sliders. The controller data can also be played back independently to complement the notes you play in real time.

USB and EXT IN
Connect directly to a computer (Mac or PC) with one simple USB cable, and stream audio directly to the software of your choice. The SH-01's USB ports can also be used to transmit and receive MIDI data, and to store your patches and phrases (recorded with the Phrase Recorder) to a USB memory stick. For integrating with external devices, the SH-01's EXT input lets you connect external audio sources such as an MP3-player and play along with your favorite songs or backing tracks-great for practice and live performance. Manipulate the incoming audio with three Center Cancel modes, which let you eliminate pre-recorded vocals, guitars, or bass.

9
reviews

I'll be honest, I rarely use this for more than super-saws (Which it excels in, by the way), however, It's a tremendous option to add into any performance or studio rig. It has a simple, to-the-point layout, which doesn't require much of a learning curve. It isn't my go-to, but its still an excellent option, especially considering the price.

The GAIA is the most fun to program synth I own. Zero menu-diving (but some advanced settings need repeat owner's manual diving to remember button-press combinations). The high polyphony allows for huge pads. Plus there is a General MIDI engine on-board (which actually has a few nice sounding instruments, including piano and synths), each instrument having it's own MIDI-controllable filter settings. That gives it some nice multi-timbrality, in a round-about way. Great sound palette for use with your favorite DAW.

This synth help me to learn proper synthesis. It is a great instrument for someone to start. Before I was using only VSTs and only presets. With GAIA I started to create all my sounds and I still learn something new every day.
There could be some more details in it, like LCD display to show you the presets parameter's value. However there is a fan made GAIA tool software, that helps you big time.
You can save your sounds, edit them in PC and control the values of parameters.
So far I am very happy. Sometimes I feel a bit limited with it, especially wit bass sounds, however I am just starting my journey as a synthesist, so that could be a reason too.

If I were ever to earn money from making music, or actually start taking it seriously and had a bit of cash to spare, I think i'd enjoy having something like this around, simply to fiddle with and come up with musical ideas. Plus I would like to become a bit more deft with a keyboard. Decent price tag in relation to other hardware synths as well. Hopefully one for the further future.